“Over 300 Rebels Killed as Russian Airstrikes Target Insurgents in Aleppo, Syria”

A major attack by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Aleppo, Syria, prompted Russian airstrikes in support of President Bashar al-Assad’s government, according to Russian news sources. This assault marked the most significant flare-up in Syria’s civil war since 2020.

The insurgent attack is the largest in years, challenging both the Syrian Army and Assad’s regime. In response, the Syrian Army launched counterattacks, supported by Russian airstrikes targeting rebel positions, convoys, and gatherings. More than 300 insurgents were reportedly killed in these strikes, as confirmed by the Russian Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Parties.

The offensive also led to the rebels taking control of Aleppo’s airport and the city of Maraat al-Numan in Idlib province. The capture of these areas significantly boosted the rebels’ control in northern Syria.

The group behind the attack, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly the Nusra Front), is considered a terrorist organization by multiple countries, including the US, Russia, and Turkey. Their assault on Aleppo has escalated tensions in the region.

The offensive began on Wednesday, with insurgents seizing towns, engaging in clashes with government forces, and causing civilian casualties. Aleppo, a critical city in Syria’s civil war, has been under government control since 2016, when Russian-backed Syrian forces gained a decisive victory over rebels in eastern Aleppo.